Nuggets For The New Year – The character of a light bearer.

As believers in Christ Jesus, we are light bearers. The bible admonishes that we become blameless and harmless children of God without fault. Even in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation we are expected to still shine as lights (Phil 2:15).
Jesus Christ was 100% man and 100% God. Phil 2:7 says Jesus came in the likeness of man, suggesting that Jesus was really a man not merely a man. His humanity was genuine yet His being was still divine.
Now the command is this – to be like – minded (have the same mind as Christ) – Phil 2:2.
What Character did Jesus Christ display that made Him shine as a light?
Nuggets
1. Unselfishness – Christ looked beyond His own interests for our sakes. He willingly laid aside His heavenly glory to come to earth and die.
We should be willing to look beyond our own interests for the sake of others. This applies to every relationship we may find ourselves, as husbands, wives, children, fathers, mothers, pastors, friends etc.

2. Humility – Christ did not affirm the fullness of Godliness by self – advancement. His exaltation is a consequence of Him humbling Himself.
Just as Christ’s humility received ultimate exaltation our call is to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift us up (James 4:10).
This helps us to rise to God’s highest purpose in each of us.

3. Obedience – In view of the obedience of Christ and His lordship we are expected to show a like obedience (Phil 2:12). Obedience to our call in life regardless of what the call is. From the pulpit to pew, as businessmen or preachers. Obedience is a key to breakthrough in the new year.

4. Unity – Being like – minded also suggests unity. Unity of purpose and disposition is important for advancement in any facets of life. Consider others more important than yourself. Diligently seek unity with other believers in your thoughts, attitude, love, spirit and purpose. Be concerned about the things that are important to others. (Phil 2:1-4).

5. Learn to control your thought life. Practice focusing your thoughts on things that are pure, lovely, and virtuous and praise worthy (Phil 4:8-9).

6. Forget the past and reach out for those things still ahead (Phil 3:12-14).

7. Believe with confidence that God will accomplish the good work He started in you (Phil 1:6).

8. Learn to be content in all circumstances. Contentment will bring great freedom to your life (Phil 4:1-12).

9. Believe that when God asks you to do something, He is able to provide the strength you need to do it (Phil 4:13).

10. Rejoice always and pray continuously. Consciously practice responding to various circumstances with joy and prayer instead of anxiety and worry (Phil 4: 4-7).

In conclusion, as the heavenly bodies shine forth in brightness against the blackness of the night so the lives of true Christians lighten the moral darkness of the world.
Please add to the list of nuggets for the New Year by clicking reply now. Have a delightful new year. Go and shine forth! God bless.

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Focusing On The Big Picture (8 days of spiritual vitality).

Day 1
Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion. It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy. But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.

Day 2
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.

Day 3
“When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there’s no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you’ll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You’ll no longer be so full of questions. “This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!

Day 4
And then God answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.

Day 5
A bystander said, “Master, will only a few be saved?” He said, “Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’

Day 6
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God ! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God ’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.

Day 7
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus , who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He is there , in the place of honor, right alongside God.

Day 8
Then He said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’ “The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’ “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need. “Here’s what I’m saying: Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and the door will open.

By Pastor Victor Olumakin
www.prayerliberation.org

Please click reply to comment, make additions or share your testimony. God bless.

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